Treating Gonorrhea — The Present and the Future

Although ceftriaxone remains active against gonorrhea in the U.S., gepotidacin is a novel antibiotic with similar efficacy and potential use in a global setting.

Surveillance for gonorrheal resistance to antibiotics entails susceptibility testing through the Gonococcal Isolate Surveillance Project (GISP), a network that determines antimicrobial susceptibility of a portion of gonococcal isolates obtained from local sexual health clinics. Only samples from men are tested (findings in women are inferred from those in men who have sex with women). Between 2008 and 2019, the proportion of isolates resistant to at least one of the six antibiotics tested (azithromycin, cefixime, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, penicillin, and tetracycline) rose to 54% in men and 51% in women. Highest rates of resistance were to ciprofloxacin (30%) and tetracycline (26%). Reduced susceptibility to ceftriaxone and cefixime was s…

Reviewing Author

Anna Wald, MD, MPH

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAicuris; Bayer; GSK; Innovative Molecules; Merck; MAPP Biopharmaceutical (Safety Monitoring Committee)

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Grant/Research SupportNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; GSK; Moderna; Assembly Biomedical; Aicuris

Editorial BoardsSexually Transmitted Diseases; Sexually Transmitted Infections; Journal of Infectious Diseases

Leadership PositionsID Division Chiefs Community of Practice (At-Large Member)